The Indians have released reliever Scott Atchison, the club announced. The 39-year-old righty had been designated for assignment earlier in the week.
Atchison struggled to a 6.86 ERA over 19 2/3 innings this season, though ERA estimators such as xFIP (4.35) and SIERA (4.03) paint a somewhat more sympathetic view of his 2015 performance. Atchison has been badly hurt by the long ball, as he’s already allowed six homers and owns a 2.75 HR/9, which more than triples his 0.91 career HR/9. His 42% ground ball rate is also well below his career 49.7% GBR, which especially hurts since Atchison isn’t a strikeout pitcher.
Cleveland signed Atchison to a $1MM extension last August that paid him a $900K base salary in 2015 as well as a $100K buyout of a $1MM option for 2016. The right-hander was in the midst of a very solid 2.75 ERA campaign for the Tribe in 2014 and had posted very effective numbers from 2011-14 as a member of the Indians, Mets and Red Sox.
With Atchison’s release, only four players remain in limbo according to the MLB Trade Rumors DFA Tracker: Erik Kratz (Red Sox), Rafael Lopez (Cubs), Jose Tabata (Pirates) and Chris Volstad (Pirates).
Guy has been pitching since at least summer of ’12 with a partially torn tendon in his throwing elbow, was why Bobby V had to give him almost a month of rest before throwing a few games end of the season and then Boston let him walk that winter over peanuts.
Wonder if his elbow has gotten worse after throwing 70 games last season? Velocity only down about 1mph, though confess have only seen less than a handful of his games this year.
Unless he can’t pass a physical, his success last year should easily get him a AAA contract for a look see. I wouldn’t even mind if Dave brought him in for a look see for the Tigers. No lose situation, if Atchinson accepts a minor league deal.